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US 10,421,573 B2Granted
Linen hamper
AssigneeGeerpres, Inc.
InventorsScott E. Ribbe, Carleton Wright, Dale Bucy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A linen hamper made of a light weight tubular frame for releasably securing a hamper bag includes an open top which can be closed by a pivotally mounted lid. The lid is connected to a foot pedal pivotally mounted on the frame, by an adjustable control rod pivotally connected to each. A closing cylinder is biased to close the lid when pressure is removed from the foot pedal. However, the control rod is adjustable to a second state in which the pivot point of its connection to the lid is aligned or is over center relative to the pivot point of the lid, and with respect to the closing force exerted by the control rod on the lid, such that the closing cylinder cannot close the lid until the lid is tapped forwardly slightly.
Claims13
A hamper comprising:
- an open top and including a frame for supporting a hamper bag, said frame having a top and a bottom;
- a lid being pivotally connected near its rear at a first pivot point to said frame at the top of said frame and over said open top;
- said lid including a downwardly extending side flange on each side thereof and near the rear of said lid;
- a foot pedal pivotally connected to said frame toward the bottom thereof;
- a control rod pivotally connected to one of said side flanges, at a second pivot point located rearwardly of said first pivot point;
- said control rod being pivotally connected to said foot pedal at a point located ahead of the pivotal connection of said foot pedal to said frame, whereby depression of said foot pedal pulls said lid side flange downwardly, causing said lid to pivot open;
- said control rod being adjustable, whereby pressure on said foot pedal opens said lid;
- a closing cylinder operably connected to said lid, biased to slowly and quietly close said lid when pressure on said foot pedal is released;
- said control rod being adjustable between a first state in which said lid will close when pressure on said foot pedal is released, and a second state in which the length of said control rod is such that upon pivoting said lid to its open position, said first and second pivot points of said side flange are aligned or are over center with respect to the upward force exerted by said control rod on said side flange as said closing cylinder attempts to close said lid such that said lid will stay open when said pressure on said foot pedal is released, and will close when said lid is pushed slightly in a closing direction, allowing said closing cylinder to close said lid.
6 more elements
A hamper comprising:
- an open top;
- a lid connected pivotally mounted over said open top;
- a foot pedal pivotally connected to said hamper;
- a control rod connecting said foot pedal to said lid, whereby pressure on said foot pedal opens said lid;
- a closing cylinder is operably connected to said lid and is biased to slowly and quietly close said lid when pressure on said foot pedal is released;
- said control rod being adjustable in length between a first state in which the length of said control rod will allow said lid to close when pressure on said foot pedal is released, and a second state in which the length of said control rod is such that said lid will stay open when said pressure on said foot pedal is released, and will close when the lid is pushed slightly in a closing direction, allowing said closing cylinder;
- said control rod including a rod having a threaded end, and a connector having a threaded sleeve into which said threaded end of said rod is threadably received;
- the length of said control rod being adjustable by threading said threaded sleeve to either said first state length or said second state length.
5 more elements
A hamper comprising:
- an open top;
- a lid connected pivotally mounted over said open top;
- a foot pedal pivotally connected to said hamper;
- a control rod connecting said foot pedal to said lid, whereby pressure on said foot pedal opens said lid,
- a closing cylinder is operably connected to said lid, and is biased to slowly and quietly close said lid when pressure on said foot pedal is released;
- said control rod being adjustable in length between a first state in which the length of said control rod will allow said lid to close when pressure on said foot pedal is released, and a second state in which the length of said control rod is such that said lid will stay open when said pressure on said foot pedal is released, and will close when the lid is pushed slightly in a closing direction, allowing said closing cylinder;
- said lid including a downwardly extending side flange on each side of said lid, located near the rear of said lid:
- said lid being pivotally mounted to said hamper at a first pivot point;
- said control rod being pivotally connected to one of said side flanges, at a second point located rearwardly of said first pivot point of said lid;
- said control rod being pivotally connected to said foot pedal at a point located ahead of the pivotal connection of said foot pedal said hamper, whereby depression of said foot pedal pulls said lid side flange downwardly, causing said lid to pivot open;
- the length of said control rod in said second state being such that upon pivoting said lid to its open position, said first and second pivot points of said side flange are aligned or are over center with respect to the upward force exerted by said control rod on said side flange as said closing cylinder attempts to close said lid.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.